MT depressed center flat cars

[skm]

The F35: 53' 2" deck length


The F43: 58' 4" deck length


IIRC the MTL model scales out as 58' long, note the deck overhang on the F43.

Dave Vollmer posted some nice pics of the MTL model on the atlas forum a few years ago.
"The prototype was built by the NYC in September 1987 at Beech Grove Shops"


Pic of F43 in CR paint (might be NYC prototype?)
Anyway looks pretty close to MTL model. Trucks are further inboard on model, but reversing them after cutting of the couplers might help? (6" scale bolster offset on MTL trucks)


Hope this info helps?

I believe someone informed MTL of the error after the first release (as lettered for an F35), but the second release continued the error?
Might have been George Irwin? Cocktailheimers has the better of me! 

[wcfn100]

This is as far as I could take mine down without modifying the truck.



Jason

[bbussey]

I modified more than the bolsters on my pair.  I modified the bolsters, extended the wheelbase, discarded the plastic parts and built new end decks from styrene, drilled out the holes in the casting, added laser-cut wood decks, and swapped in 28" wheels.

[chicken45]

I modified more than the bolsters on my pair.  I modified the bolsters, extended the wheelbase, discarded the plastic parts and built new end decks from styrene, drilled out the holes in the casting, added laser-cut wood decks, and swapped in 28" wheels.

I would love to see a picture.

[wcfn100]

I would love to see a picture.

I'll let Bryan repost the picture if he wants, but he did post it here.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=27872.msg288168#msg288168

and swapped in 28" wheels.

What, no 30"s, slacker.   

Jason

[bbussey]

I'll let Bryan repost the picture if he wants, but he did post it here.
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=27872.msg288168#msg288168

The how-to article is in the Nov/Dec 2004 issue of NSR.

What, no 30"s, slacker.   

Didn't feel like turning my own wheels. 

[wcfn100]

Didn't feel like turning my own wheels. 

Well if you ever do, my Sante Fe cars needs them too.   

Jason

[dougnelson]

Yes, I stand corrected- the MTL model is an F43.  But back to Otto's original question - is it correct to prototype or is it a foob?  The good news is that the model does look very close to an F43 including the Buckeye trucks, the external brake line, and 58' length. The bad news is that the MTL car is lettered as an F35 with a lettering scheme that is incorrect for the F43.  The six F43s were built in 1958 and should be lettered in the "Shadow Keystone" scheme or later PRR scheme (road numbers 470271-470276).  I don't believe there are any commercial decals for the F43, so until MTL releases the car with correct F43 lettering, the answer to Otto's question is FOOB.

[nkalanaga]

"The prototype was built by the NYC in September 1987 at Beech Grove Shops"

Wasn't the NYC long gone by 1987?  Or is this one of those cases where the fans, and often the local residents, continue to use the old name long after the merger? 

[Cajonpassfan]

Doug, thank you so much for ruining my day with facts
The cutoff for my modeling era is Spring '51, so it would seem the F43 is too new. Unless any of you guys are interested in it, is going on Feebay. Dang, and I liked it....

Hmm, any of the other MT paint schemes appropriate for my earlier time? The Erie? I know the ATSF cars came after my modeling period.
Thanks and regards to all who participated.
Otto K.

[dougnelson]

Otto- Sad but true.  However unless you plan to bring the car to an RPM meet, no one else will know and you are the master of your model railroad universe.

Doug.

[bbussey]

Well if you ever do, my Sante Fe cars needs them too.   

Trust me, they look bad-a$$ with 28 inch wheels.

[chicken45]

Bryan pointed this out to me several years ago about this being an F43. I saw Dr. Vollmer's article in an issue of NSM and assumed it was correct PRR prototype (he was modeling a PC car). So it sat there in the back of mind. I've been nagging Mount Vernon Shops to do a limited edition F43 decal run.

I think I'm close to a breakthrough.

[bbussey]

Bryan pointed this out to me several years ago about this being an F43. I saw Dr. Vollmer's article in an issue of NSM and assumed it was correct PRR prototype (he was modeling a PC car). So it sat there in the back of mind. I've been nagging Mount Vernon Shops to do a limited edition F43 decal run.

I think I'm close to a breakthrough.

Decals can't be pieced together from Microscale's Pennsy F30 set?  I find that hard to believe.

[chicken45]

Decals can't be pieced together from Microscale's Pennsy F30 set?  I find that hard to believe.

Well, I never said that, nor did I intend to implicitly say it. At the very least, the decals won't say "F43" and it's hard to fudge that.
Also, the F30 set does not contain any "R's." They all spell out PENNSYLVANIA on the decals.
So Doug's pic from the flat car book says this is Shadow Keystone. Most PRR Flats didn't have the keystone on them at all. There's no keystones in the F30 set.

So...what about other decal sets? I don't know if they can be pieced together.